Joint Statement by Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin Concerning the Adoption of a Japan-Russia Action Plan

The Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the Russian Federation,

Sharing the view that in the current situation in which the vigorous process of formation of new forms of inter-state cooperation based on principles of freedom and democracy are advancing in the international community, the roles and responsibilities of Japan and the Russian Federation are increasing in the world and further enhancement of the cooperation between the two countries is vital;

Understanding the importance of intensifying joint efforts towards the resolution of urgent global issues including the issues of enhancing international peace and security and tackling international terrorism based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations;

Standing upon the position that the enhancement of cooperation between Japan and the Russian Federation on the global and regional level would promote the development of bilateral relations and also be beneficial to the international community as a whole;

Confirming that Japan and the Russian Federation, which share the universal values of freedom, democracy, rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights, are resolved to continue to make efforts towards the creation of a creative partnership that is consistent with their strategic and geo-political interests;

Recognizing that in a situation in which structural and positive changes are occurring in relations between the Russian Federation and other major countries, through the vitalization of bilateral relations in various areas, there is a need to boost cooperation to a level concomitant with its potential, and that this would be of strategic significance for the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole;

Aspiring to open up a new horizon for broad Japan-Russia partnership, by ultimately overcoming difficult legacies from the past between the two countries, and affirming their determination to conclude a peace treaty as soon as possible through the solution of the issue of where the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai belong and therefore accomplish complete normalization of Japan-Russia relations through vigorous negotiations based on the agreements that have been achieved to date, including the Joint Declaration of Japan and the USSR in 1956, the Tokyo Declaration on Japan-Russia Relations in 1993, the Moscow Declaration on Establishing a Creative Partnership between Japan and the Russian Federation in 1998, the Statement by the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the Russian Federation on the Issue of a Peace Treaty in 2000 and the Irkutsk Statement by the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the Russian Federation on continuation of future negotiations on the issue of a Peace Treaty in 2001;

Indicating the highly evaluated role the Program to Stimulate the Basic Direction of Cooperation in Trade and Economic Areas, which was signed in September 2000, has had in developing bilateral trade and economic relations, and the necessity for the realization of the potential possibilities of broader and more effective cooperation in these areas;

Indicating the significance of Japanese technical assistance to promote the transition to market economy in the Russian Federation, including technical assistance through the Japan Centers, and affirming that it would be to the benefit of the international community as a whole for the Russian Federation to become a fully integrated member of the international economic system, including the accession of the Russian Federation to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which Japan is supporting;

Being convinced that through the series of Japanese cultural events to be held in the Russian Federation in 2003 and through similar Russian cultural events to be held in Japan in the future, the expansion of human exchange among people from all walks of life in both countries will further promote friendship, trust and mutual understanding between the people of Japan and the Russian Federation; and

Emphasizing the importance of adopting specific measures to secure dynamic and comprehensive development in Japan-Russian Federation cooperation;

Adopted of the Japan-Russia Action Plan attached herein, and expressed both countries' intention to undertake joint work to ensure the steady implementation of the Action Plan.